A nationalist activist has been charged for allegedly booing during a “welcome to country” humiliation ritual being performed at the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
Nathan Bull, 23, was violently arrested outside Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday over an alleged clash between members of the National Socialist Network (NSN) and far-left activists who were attacking flag-wearing March for Australia attendees after the rally on Sunday.
Mr Bull was charged with multiple offences over the alleged incident at so-called Camp Sovereignty – an illegal aboriginal squatter camp where anti-Australian indigenous activists want to seize public land for themselves – including violent disorder, affray and assault by kicking.
But the father-of-one revealed to Noticer News he was also charged with “offensive behaviour” and two other offences under the Shrine of Remembrance Act for allegedly booing during the “welcome to country”, which sparked a nationwide debate about the ceremonies.
Victoria Police confirmed he was charged with “behave in an offensive manner whilst in a public place namely the Shrine of Remembrance Reserve (Summary Offences Act)”, “offend against decency by conduct and behaviour whilst in the Shrine of Remembrance Reserve (Shrine of Remembrance Act)”, and “take part in a disturbance whilst in the Shrine of Remembrance Reserve (Shrine of Remembrance Act)”.
Video of Mr Bull’s arrest shows him being pinned to the ground by police while fellow nationalist activist Thomas Sewell was handcuffed nearby. Mr Bull and a third man were given bail, but Mr Sewell remains remanded in custody, with a bail application set to be ruled on this Friday.
Mr Bull told Noticer News four officers pulled him to the ground, and said while he was pinned down a brown-skinned officer “put his knee on my head, lifted it back off and slammed it back onto my head while it was being held to the ground”.
His phone was seized for evidence and he was given bail conditions banning him from leaving Victoria, entering the CBD, going within 200 metres of the Kings Domain, and contacting Mr Sewell, the other co-accused and any future co-accused.
Mr Bull will face court again over the charges in November.
The charges come after Mr Bull was arrested during an NSN march through Adelaide on Australia Day and charged with “possess article of disguise” for having a hat and sunglasses in his backpack. His charges were dropped months later, as were those laid against most of the 16 other people arrested on the day.
Header image: Left, The Anzac Day Dawn Service crowd. Right, Nathan Bull with his child (supplied).
